old time gas station and a hand built motorcycle

originally uploaded by billaday.

I arrived early to a Pasadena appointment to give myself some time (ten minutes) to take some photos. After a brief photowalk, I was heading back to my car, and I passed a guy with a purple motorcycle. He got off the bike and took out a Nikon dSLR. He positioned his shiny motorcycle in front of an old-style gas station, and was planning to photograph his bike for a calendar. I asked if I could jump in, he obliged, and I snapped a few.

This was was taken with my Canon DS870is, which is a killer camera, but doesn't have a very wide aperture when you zoom. So, in Photoshop, I duplicated the layer, applied a gaussian blur (at 22 px), and masked out the bike and gas pump. I also applied a Color Stylizer filter using Nik Software's Color Efex Pro. Basically, it applies a sepia filter, and lets you fade in the color. You get way more control over colors and shadows with Nik, but that's the basic idea. Now (hopefully) it looks like it was shot with my f1.4 lens with a super old film.

Year 3, Day 129

Let me ask you a question, how do you feel about frilly toothpicks?

originally uploaded by billaday.

I'm for 'em! Well, this club is formed. Spread the news on menus nationwide.

Year 3, Day 128

Bob Tron and his green bowl

originally uploaded by billaday.

Remember the movie Tron? Remember how the characters from Tron used to be on the Peoplemover at Disneyland?

So, I think that if I was hanging out with those guys, this is what their diningware would look like. And, of course, the guy's name would be Bob. Bob Tron.

Year 3, Day 127

aerodynamic and warm

originally uploaded by billaday.

I started teaching with University of La Verne. It's a satellite course, so I'm teaching at Rio Hondo College in Whittier. I wanted to photo-a-day the building I teach in, but the light on my car just looked so cool. And by cool, I mean warm... warm colors (reds and yellows).

Year 3, Day 126

called out of retirement

originally uploaded by billaday.

Tires are expensive. We bought 4 recently... it's not as though you can buy just one tire. I suppose that's why there are place like this that sell 4 tires that are used. I went to Costco and got 4 new.

Year 3, Day 125

a moon made of diamonds

originally uploaded by billaday.

150 teacher and I sat in a room for 2 days waiting to see if we were going to get laid off. So far, 89 of us, including me, will not have jobs in August.

Year 3, Day 124

heirloom

originally uploaded by billaday.

I think that my grandpa built this way back when my mom was a baby. It's a handcrafted chair, and is still working (sort of).

Year 3, Day 123